New to towing vehicle with E-Z Pass question

[TomHalv]

I have a 2015 Allegro Open Road MH and have decided to get set up for towing my Subaru Forester (manual transmission). I have a new Demco Dominator tow bar and a RVi Brake2 braking system. I should be all set by early next week with the baseplate install on the toad.

My question is how do I get set up for E-Zpass with towing? I seem to get conflicting info and wonder if anyone can set me straight. I currently have an E-Z pass account and tags for the motorhome and the toad. Should I get a new tag for the combination of MH and toad (and put the toad's E-Z pass in the little bag so it doesn't get tagged)? Or am I supposed to just run through with both tags active?

And what about other states besides NY (my home state)? Are the rules similar/different??

[webslave]

Dutch_12078 wrote:
First set up an ordinary NY E-ZPass account, just as you would for any passenger vehicle. Then go to this link and follow the instructions for the "Thruway Motorhome Discount Plan". There's a link where the needed form can be downloaded and printed out. E-ZPass will send you the proper tag for your motorhome toad combination, and the standard tag gets put in a shielded bag or wrapped in foil while the towing tag is in use.

Very similar to what I have from Massachusetts... I have a transponder for each of my cars (one of which is my towed). I have another one for the MH that is setup for the MH + towed. When I'm towing the Jeep with the MH, the Jeep's transponder goes in the bag (signal blocking) in the Jeep's glove box. I also have an another transponder for the MH for when I use the MH without a towed vehicle. I don't currently have it activated since 99.9% of the time I take the towed, but, if I don't, I activate that one and all of the tolls are correct for the various weights and axles and over-rides any of the "axle counters". It was explained to me, by MA, that mere axle counters may misconstrue my MH and towed combination as a tractor trailer combination (a higher rate), while the transponder transmits the proper MH and towed car combination... It seems to have been working properly so far, I've never had an error in fees deducted. Nice thing about the MA E-ZPass is that there is no charge for any of the transponders, so I have enough of them to cover all of my possible combinations. I had the same setup when I towed a 5th wheel and, again, never had any confusion or issue of incorrect charges.

[Dutch_12078]

First set up an ordinary NY E-ZPass account, just as you would for any passenger vehicle. Then go to this link and follow the instructions for the "Thruway Motorhome Discount Plan". There's a link where the needed form can be downloaded and printed out. E-ZPass will send you the proper tag for your motorhome toad combination, and the standard tag gets put in a shielded bag or wrapped in foil while the towing tag is in use.

[Kayteg1]

Do you really need 2 transporters to start with?
I have one for last 15 years and use it on about 5 vehicles.
I don't cross toll very often, but even when I forget to take the transporter, the system will read my licence plate and bill my account.
Charges are another story. In CA 2-axle vehicle pays $5 for bridge crossing.
Anything 3+ axles pay $5 per axle.
Meaning you tow toad with 2-axle motorhome, you pay $20.
You separate them and you pay total of $10
This is where I love my manually liftable tag. 🙂

[Roadpilot]

I think we have hit every EX Pass road in the country. We take the transponder from our toad and put it in the glove box. All the tollways count axles. So you are billed correctly with just the MH transponder.

This caused a problem once, going over the OH turnpike. Apparently their transponder readers are more sensitive then any others. They picked up the transponder in the glove box as well as the one in the MH. We were charged twice for a high - 5 axle vehicle. Cost $75. So in OH be sure to bag the second transponder.

[jfkmk]

I would remove the tag from the toad while towing it. The last thing you want is to pay twice!

I've driven in nj, ny and pa using my regular ez pass tag towing a tt. It automatically gets billed per the number of axles. The only problem I've had is crossing the Delaware River on rt 78 when I was overbilled. Their web site suggests removing the tag and paying cash.

[Executive45]

Most toll roads I've been on charge an extra fee if you're hooked up. I become a 5 axle vehicle hooked up and pay a premium as opposed to a 3 axle AND 2 axle. In California it's about $12-15 more. All toll roads I've talked to, Fastrak in Cal and SunPass in Florida say to put the second transmitter in a bag and the sensors in the roadway will determine axle count....Dennis

[Kayteg1]

Can't tell for sure about NY, but in California Fastrak counts the axles automatically and bills you accordingly.
With 4 or 5 axles you will be billed the semitruck fee.